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The European Union aims to make Europe the first climate neutral continent and has set a net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target for 2050. It would be zero.
Lithuania is also obliged to contribute to the implementation of this objective. As a result, the government drew up the National Climate Change Management Agenda, which was approved by the Seimas in late June.
It establishes specific goals and objectives for the sector, for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the short, medium and long term. Most of the measures are planned against Lithuania’s biggest source of pollution: transport.
In a few years, small areas of pollution will appear in municipalities, in a decade polluting cars will no longer be registered and, after 25 years, an ambitious goal has been set: by 2045. Vehicles based on fossil fuels should not stay in transport at all.
The long-term goal, which is expected to be reached in 2050, is 100%. to reduce GHG emissions compared to 1990.
In the energy sector until 2030. Renewable energy sources (RES) are expected to reach 50%. total final energy consumption, as well as achieving a 50% reduction in electricity consumed in the country would come from renewable energy sources, district heating energy from renewable energy sources would account for 90 percent.
Requirements for the industrial, transport and agricultural sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the long term and phase out fossil fuels in the future. It is also planned to constantly increase the amount of energy from renewable sources, the number of electric cars and clean vehicles.
Among the main objectives, by 2040. it will be reduced by 85% and by 2050 reduced by 100%. emissions compared to 1990. level. All the goals and objectives of the National Climate Change Management Agenda can be found here.
Cities will limit car access to downtown
Lithuania’s main measures to combat the climate crisis are related to the country’s biggest source of pollution – transportation.
The plan foresees this by 2023. The municipalities of all the country’s cities must establish low-pollution zones where the traffic of conventional cars will be restricted or prohibited.
“I am from Jakšto Street (The building of the Ministry of the Environment is located on A. Jakšto street in the capital, aut. last.) I will not think about how it should be in Kupiškis or Vilnius. But the municipalities should have the right to restrict the access of polluting cars to the centers.
You know, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Stuttgart have already basically banned the entry of diesel cars in the city center, SUVs cannot enter Stockholm in principle ”, said the Environment Minister, Simon Gentvilas, to the tv3 news portal .lt.
According to him, in order to reduce pollution from cars, we must talk not only about taxing polluting vehicles, but also giving priority to public transport and restricting the access of the most polluting cars to city centers.
“When we say that the air in Paris is cleaner than in Vilnius, we must understand that we have a well-developed district heating, but pollution from district heating is limited. The main polluters are cars.
We drive a disproportionate amount of diesel, which emits soot and particles. The municipalities, where they see that there are extremely polluted areas, would definitely have the right to decide to restrict or prohibit the entry of polluting cars ”, S. Gentvilas is convinced.
“The conscientious mayor, when listening to the complaints of the neighbors, must take those measures in his favor. Certainly, these decisions should not be made through the windows of the Ministry of the Environment. “The neighbors feel that the municipalities see where these polluting areas are,” he added.
Until 2045 there will be no gasoline and diesel cars
Even more stringent measures are envisaged in the future. The ministry will aim for electric cars and low-emission vehicles to account for half of all vehicles in the country’s fleet over the next ten years, that is, by 2030.
Up to 50 percent is also expected. the number of cars that run on conventional fuels (gasoline and diesel) in cities will be reduced.
According to Regitra, there are currently more than 1.3 million diesel and gasoline vehicles in Lithuania.
Gasoline and diesel cars will have to disappear from the roads in twenty years.
The plan foresees that from 2030. January 1 N1-class vehicles with internal combustion engines, except those running on alternative fuels, will not be registered in Lithuania.
The most distant and ambitious goal of the plan is to reach 2045. Fossil fuel-based vehicles should not remain in transport at all.
Hundreds of ecological buses will hit the streets
According to S. Gentvilas, everyone can contribute to the fight against the climate crisis, and one of the ways he has chosen is to use public transport.
“I am a frequent passenger on both buses and trolleybuses. <....> Public transport would become a real alternative for those who do not need a car.
Certainly, there are groups in society who own a car just because there is no developed alternative to public transportation.
My position is that public transport should be a clear, well-financed alternative and municipalities should have the resources to expand it, ”said the Minister.
Public transportation is also a major focus of the climate crisis plan. It is planned that by 2027. All public transport, taxi and shuttle will use only renewable energy sources.
“My karma feels great when I take a train from Vilnius to Kaunas, which runs on electricity and only green electricity,” said S. Gentvilas.
According to him, around 30 thousand people travel between Vilnius and Kaunas every day. cars, so if at least a part of this population changed trains, the price of the ticket would not only not increase but could decrease.
“You know, we don’t really load public transportation as much as it can,” Gentville said.
Speaking of the goal for 2027 to have only ecological public transport in large cities, S. Gentvilas pointed out that this year alone the Ministry of the Environment allocated 27 million. municipalities to replace diesel buses with electric or compressed gas.
“One hundred green buses will be launched this year and every year. Approximately 700-1 thousand people under the age of 27 alone. New buses rolled out with the help of grants. [Bilietų] the price should not rise, and the effect will really be felt, because the neighbors will also feel comfortable driving ecological transport, and those diesel buses that circulate in big cities will definitely be replaced by basically emission-free buses ”, explained S. Gentvilas. .
The most difficult: for agriculture.
Speaking about what Lithuania’s goals look like in the context of the European Union, the Minister noted that our country is somewhat behind on the measures.
“If I were a politician from Brussels, I would wonder why Lithuania is trying to implement the green exchange rate so slowly, because the green exchange rate is extremely beneficial for the Lithuanian economy,” said S. Gentvilas.
According to him, Lithuania is a country dependent on imports, Lithuania pays around 2.5 billion litas every year for the import of gas, oil products and electricity. euros to foreign suppliers.
“Instead, we could produce our electricity here, drive electric cars, use local biofuels, create jobs and pay money to Lithuanian businesses and residents.” <...> From Brussels’ point of view, Lithuania should implement this strategy much faster, ”said S. Gentvilas.
Although, according to the Minister, Lithuania’s agenda and green exchange rate initiatives are very useful for the economy of our country, there is a sector for which the fight against climate change is of great concern. This is agriculture.
“It costs him more to adapt, because the process in agricultural production will not be altered in any way by mechanics, that is, natural processes. Livestock actually emit a lot of carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
“We really have to think a lot more, we have to be a lot more careful, because food is a necessity, food must be grown, and the climate debate with agricultural companies and farmers is difficult, there really must be understanding,” said the Minister.
However, he hopes that the fight against the climate crisis will not be limited to ministerial documents or legislation, but will involve all citizens.
“If the fight against climate change is only a priority for the Ministry of the Environment, we will lose it”, S. Gentvilas is convinced.
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